How much does a police officer make in California?

It depends on the department. At the middle city police department the top salary for an officer is $123,888, and 123 of 246 departments top out at that or more. With overtime, the middle department's officers were paid a median of $158,497 in 2025.

What is the starting salary for a police officer in California?

At the middle department the lowest published salary for an officer is $97,357. 123 of 246 departments start at that or more. The highest starting salary is $163,619 at Santa Clara Police.

Which California police department pays the most?

Concord Police has the highest top salary, $209,149. Santa Clara Police has the highest median total pay with overtime, $274,799.

Which pays the least?

Of departments with 10 or more full-year officers, Huron Police has the lowest top salary, $51,272.

Police officer salary in California, 2025

What city police departments in California pay an officer, from starting salary to top salary, at 246 departments with 10 or more full-year officers. Figures are what each city reported to the State Controller for 2025.

Top salary at the middle department

$123,888

123 of 246 city police departments top out at this or more. The middle starting salary is $97,357. With overtime, the middle department paid its officers a median of $158,497.

Top salary: number of departments in each band

Under 100k34

100k to 120k67

120k to 140k93

140k to 160k31

160k to 180k16

180k or more5

Highest published base salary for an officer, in thousands of dollars a year, without overtime.

Starting salary: number of departments in each band

Under 70k25

70k to 85k27

85k to 100k94

100k to 115k61

115k to 130k23

130k or more16

Lowest published base salary for an officer, in thousands of dollars a year, after the academy.

The 15 largest city departments

Starting salary to top salary. The letter is the pay grade on each report card.

San Jose Police$137,141 to $183,689A

San Francisco Police$119,262 to $164,164A

Oakland Police$105,968 to $155,823A

Anaheim Police$95,243 to $133,994B

Chula Vista Police$104,423 to $133,273C

Santa Ana Police$105,816 to $128,628C

Riverside Police$97,092 to $123,888C

Long Beach Police$95,122 to $123,674C

Ontario Police$99,757 to $121,285C

Los Angeles Police$83,687 to $120,498C

Sacramento Police$89,383 to $119,781D

San Diego Police$77,688 to $119,725D

Fresno Police$88,524 to $118,692E

Stockton Police$89,715 to $115,265D

Bakersfield Police$71,273 to $86,650E

$60k$100k$140k$180k$220k

Compare all departments, sort and filter by county

Common questions

How much does a police officer make in California?: It depends on the department. At the middle city police department the top salary for an officer is $123,888, and 123 of 246 departments top out at that or more. With overtime, the middle department's officers were paid a median of $158,497 in 2025.
What is the starting salary for a police officer in California?: At the middle department the lowest published salary for an officer is $97,357. 123 of 246 departments start at that or more. The highest starting salary is $163,619 at Santa Clara Police.
Which California police department pays the most?: Concord Police has the highest top salary, $209,149. Santa Clara Police has the highest median total pay with overtime, $274,799.
Which pays the least?: Of departments with 10 or more full-year officers, Huron Police has the lowest top salary, $51,272.

Pay is one part of the picture. A high figure in an expensive city can go less far than a lower one elsewhere. Each department's report card also grades pay against local household income.

Highest paid departments · Pay by rank · Where pay goes furthest · Pension and benefits · Deputy sheriff salaries · How report cards work

Source: California State Controller, Government Compensation in California, raw export, 2025.

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